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Letters to the Editor for Sunday, Aug. 3

Aug 3 2014 12:01 am

Moped safety

In the interest of improving moped safety, requiring "slow-moving vehicle" placards on mopeds and bicycles would enable drivers of motor vehicles to notice the brightly colored triangles in time to slow down and give them a wider berth.

I do not believe that South Carolina uses this type of sign, but some other states utilize them for farm equipment and horse-drawn buggies.

This would not solve all our problems, but greater visibility surely would help.

It seems like common sense, along with prohibiting mopeds from roads with speed limits greater than 45 mph. But heaven forbid that we restrict individual freedom. This is South Carolina, and we'd rather die.

But I hope not.

Toni Roberts

Monsarret Lane

Goose Creek

Traffic plan

When is Charleston going to develop a comprehensive traffic plan that would address today's challenges and those for the next 20 or more years?

We are told that 1,200 people per month are choosing to come here to live, which results in more houses being built and new subdivisions being created, not to mention adding the infrastructure to cope with the inevitable increase in traffic.

We now have a hodgepodge of "improvements," including the recently announced West Ashley Circle at the junction of Glenn McConnell and Bees Ferry. There is talk of closing one lane on the U.S. 17 bridge into Charleston to provide a bike lane.

The only improvement that has made any sense is the new flyover on U.S. 17 N in Mount Pleasant where it crosses over Bowman Road.

Isn't it about time that we bite the bullet and build one at the junction of Main Road and U.S. 17? How many more fatal accidents are we going to endure until we do something about this extremely busy and dangerous intersection?

The extension to I-526 through Johns and James islands is still on the drawing boards and appears to have fallen through the cracks of political posturing. Maybe the next hurricane mass evacuation will finally cause this to be built.

A comprehensive traffic plan should also include mass transit whether it be express buses (in conjunction with HOV - High Occupancy Vehicle lanes) or light rail. Perhaps there is such a traffic plan - if so it should be publicized.

Brian Hill

Captiva Row

Charleston

Winning effort

This is to thank the players and sponsors of the First Annual Golf Tournament at the Golf Club at Wescott Plantation in North Charleston. A special thanks to Andrea Navarro and others who made this event possible.

The money raised will go to "Canines for Veterans" and to "Heroes Haven," a charity that will be building homes for homeless veterans.

John Albano

Dorchester Road

North Charleston

Veterans care

I am in favor of a Department of Veterans Affairs that administers benefits to veterans. I am against a VA that is responsible for managing a chain of hospitals across the country.

Why is the government competing with private hospitals to provide care? Do you realize how much money could be saved and how care inefficiencies could be eliminated by turning veteran care over to private hospitals?

I am not casting aspersions on the medical staffs at VA hospitals. Most are hard-working, caring individuals who are laboring to provide health care in a bureaucratic disaster.

Sell the hospitals. Many would be purchased by private hospitals. The inferior facilities would close or be put to other use.

Think how much more care could be provided if hospitals and bureaucracies were eliminated and some or all of the savings put toward better care.

Give each eligible veteran a Veterans Health Care Card. Waiting times would disappear, care would be less expensive and care improved.

This makes so much sense, it's no wonder no one in Washington is proposing it. If it makes sense, it doesn't stand a chance in Washington.

Stew Williams

Chisolm Road

Johns Island

Legalize pot

I read about the debate over legalizing medical marijuana in South Carolina in the July 26 Post and Courier.

I am a 76-year-old woman, and I am for the legalization of "pot." I do not smoke it because it's not legal here, but if it was I could throw away the 18 pills I take a day for post-traumatic stress syndrome.

I come from a country where it is legal. When I did smoke, my symptoms were few and I was without my panic attacks.

What happens when more of our military members come home from the Middle East? I foresee all kinds of problems. I saw this in our city after the Korean and Vietnam War veterans came home.

My husband was a Vietnam veteran, now deceased, and he had many problems when he came home from the war. When we were in the country where I was born, he would take two "hits" of pot and he would be fine.

Do we need to go through this again?

Diny Adkins

Lake Hunter Circle

Mount Pleasant

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